0^'  REPORT 


r. 


OF  THE 


/• 

COMMITTEE  ON  ROADS 


AND 


I INLAND  NAVIGATION. 


Read  March  11th,  1818. 


William  Legman,  Chairman. 


HARRISBURG: 
Printed  by  James  Peaco*r. 


4 


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REPORT,  &;c. 


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Mr.  Lehman,  from  the  committee  on  roads  and  inland  navigation, 
made  report,  whicli  was  read  as  follows,  viz. 

That  of  all  the  duties  incumbent  upon  the  Legislature  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  adoption  of  a judicious  plan  for  internal  improvement,  is, 
in  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  only  inferior  in  importance  to  a 
wise  system  of  education,  upon  which  the  knowledge  and  conse- 
quently the  virtue  and  happiness  of  the  people  essentially  depend. 

The  great  advantages  of  inland  commerce  have  been  acknowledged 
by  every  enlightened  nation.  In  Great  Britain  alone  thirty  millions 
sterling,  have  within  twenty-five  years,  been  expended  upon  canals, 
and  the  new  projects  wdiich  are  every  year  devised  and  carried  into 
execution,  requiring  the  heaviest  expenses,  prove  the  extensive  and 
permanent  utility  of  inland  navigation:  the  trade  which  it  fosters  is 
^ found  to  be  not  much  less  productive  than  her  foreign  trade,  and 
f both  together  as  the  great  source  of  her  prosperity.  Many  flourishing 
\ countries,  and  particularly  the  great  empire  of  China,  have  entirely 
neglected  foreign  trade,  and  been  principally  enriched  by  the  facili- 
“ ties  of  inland  navigation. 

' J This  subject  ought  to  be  the  more  interesting  to  the  Legislature, 
<,  on  account  of  the  exertions  which  neighboring  states  are  making  to 
sL'  rival  and  surpass  Pennsylvania.  The  interests  and  honor  of  the 
: state  require  that  effectual  measures  be  immediately  adopted  for 
preserving  its  great  and  increasing  inland  commerce,  which,  in  the 
^ opinion  of  your  committee,  can  only  be  done  by  facilitating  and 
reducing  in  price,  the  transportation  of  commodities  th*  ough  the 
f different  parts  of  the  state,  by  means  of  good  water  conveyances. 

7 On  the  one  side,  New  York  is  engaged  in  the  construction  of  a 
■ canal,  by  which  commodities  can  be  conveyed  from  the  city  of  New 
York  to  the  western  states,  and  even  to  the  western  counties  of  our 
u - olvn  state^  at  an  expense  far  less  than  that  for  which  a conveyance 
; can  ever  be  had  by  land  from  Philadelphia  to  the  same  places. — 
Funds  are  provided  by  law  in  that  state,  and  the  annual  sum  of  four 
hundred  thousand  dollars  is  appropriated  and  expended  for  the  sin- 
/ ‘ gle  purpose  of  making  a canal  to  connect  the  Hudson  with  Lake 
Erie. 

On  the  other  side,  Baltimore,  being  about  to  profit  by  the  partial 
measures  of  the  natiojial  government,  which  is  constructing  a turn- 
pike  road,  to  he  free  of  toll,  leading  from  the  western  country  to- 
wards that  city,  and  having  the  advantage  of  a local  position  which 
is  nearly  one  hundred  miles  nearer  than  Philadelphia  to  the  popu- 
lous and  thriving  parts  of  the  western  country,  is  now  a formidable 
rival,  and  threatens,  as  her  capital  increases,  entirely  to  deprive 


4 


Peimsylvania  of  her  trade  with  the  west.  The  stream  once  diverted 
from  its  channel,  will  never  be  restored:  and  it  remains  for  us  to  de- 
cide, whether  we  will  adopt  a state  'policy;  whether,  by  calling  forth 
our  resources  of  wealth  and  strength,  we  will  secure  the  vast  advan- 
tages which  spring  from  this  increasing  trade;  or  whether  we  will 
refuse  the  proffered  bounty,  and  prefer  the  accumulation  of  bank 
stock  to  the  solid  and  permanent  sources  of  prosperity  and  gran- 
deur. 

The  extent  of  the  inland  trade  of  Pennsylvania  may  be  estima- 
ted from  the  fact,  that  nearly  fifteen  hundred  thousand  dollars  have 
been  paid  in  one  year  for  the  transportation  of  goods  from  the  At- 
lantic waters  to  the  city  of  Pittsburg. 

Your  committee  are  convinced,  that  if  a good  slack  water  naviga- 
tion was  made  on  the  rivers  which  intersect  this  fertile  and  popu- 
lous state  in  every  direction,  and  these  connected  by  canals,  or 
canals  and  inclined  planes,  the  present  inland  trade  which  is  rapid- 
ly augmenting  and  which  stimulates  every  branch  of  industry, 
would  not  only  be  preserved,  but  the  vast  quantities  of  iron,  lime- 
stone, coal  and  lumber,  would  find  a market;  millions  of  acres  now 
barren  or  useless  would  be  brought  into  cultivation,  and  rendered 
rich  and  productive;  new  mines  would  be  discovered;  but  above 
all,  the  citizens  on  both  sides  of  the  mountains  would  be  connected 
by  the  strong  ties  of  interest;  the  landed  and  commercial  classes 
would  become  the  mutual  support  of  each  other,  and  Pennsylvania 
be  truly  one  state,  cemented  in  a perpetual  commercial  and  political 
union. 

When  your  committee  contemplate  the  inestimable  advantages 
which  must  be  conferred  upon  that  Atlantic  state,  which,  by  crea- 
ting easy  and  cheap  communications,  secures  the  trade  with  the 
vast  population  which  is  rising  in  the  west,  they  may  say,  with  an 
English  orator,  when  speaking  of  the  trade  between  England  and 
her  colonies,  “ fiction  lags  after  truth,  invention  is  unfruitful,  and 
imagination  is  cold  and  bai  ren.”  This  bright  reward  which  awaits 
our  enterprise,  including  the  trade  which  our  metropolis  now  has 
with  the  western  counties  of  our  own  state,  must  be  entirely  lost, 
unless  there  is  a water  conveyance  completed  through  at  least  a 
portion  of  the  state. 

It  is  an  obvious  truth,  that  if  the  people  are  opulent  and  w ise,  the 
government  can  never  wmnt  the  means  of  support;  and  those  who 
dread  a system  of  taxation,  may  find  consolation  in  the  reflection 
that  internal  improvements  must  augment  the  mass  of  trade,  wealth 
and  population,  without  the  sacrifice  w^hich  is  too  often  made  in  the 
pursuit  of  health,  education  or  morjils;  and  that  under  such  circunv 
stances,  the  present  sources  of  income,  without  any  additional  taxa- 
tion and  exclusive  of  bank  stock,  or  tolls  which  may  arise  from  turn- 
pike roads,  bridges,  navigable  river  stock,  or  arrearages  due  upon 
lands,  would  be  more  than  equal  to  the  ordinary  expenses  of  govern- 
ment. This  fact  will  appear  evident  from  a statement  which  they 
will  take  the  liberty  of  submitting,  of  some  of  the  receipts  and  ex- 
penditures of  last  year. 


5 


1 


STATEMENT, 


Auction  duties,  S 

Tax  on  banks, 

Tavern  licences, 

Tax  on  offices, 

Court  fines  and  fees  of  the  office  of  the  Secre- 


g:^8,826  IS 
29,535  23 
25,692  38 
8,716  67 


tary  of  the  Commonwealth, 


2,987  90 


8 145,758  31 


EXPENDITURES. 


Expenses  of  government, 
Militia  expenses, 
Pennsylvania  claimants, 
Pensions, 

Miscellaneous, 


g 183,095  14 


34,240  61 
21,837  09 
18,696  46 
46,308  23 


g 304,177  53 


From  this  statement  it  appears,  that  exclusive  of  tlie  dividends  or 
bank  stock,  on  bridge,  turnpike  or  navigable  river  stock,  and  of  all 
monies  arising  from  lands  or  fees  on  lands,  the  ordinary  receipts  of 
last  year  amounted  to  within  g 158,499  22  of  the  ordinary  expen- 
ditures. When  the  fact  is  considered,  tliat  within  a few  years,  the 
duties  on  sales  at  auction  have  increased  from  twenty  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars  per  annum,  to  seveiity  and  eighty  thousand,  owing 
to  the  increase  of  trade  and  population;  and  that  the  premium  or 
bonus  which  may  hereafter  be  received  for  renew  ing  swine  of  the 
charters  of  the  existing  banks,  may  be  reserved  as  a fuud  for  the  sup- 
port of  government:  can  any  doubts  remain  of  a sufficiency  of  mo- 
ney for  all  the  useful  purposes  of  government  wit!iout  imposing  new 
taxes,  or  without  interfering  with  the  bank  or  other  stock,  or  the  ar- 
rearages due  on  lands.^  But  if  there  should  be  a deficiency,  the 
slightest  toll  on  the  boats  which  may  navigate  the  rivers  when  impro- 
ved, would  create  an  income  adequate  to  all  the  purposes  ©f  govern- 
ment 

Placing  full  reliance  upon  the  sources  of  revenue  above  alluded  to, 
it  may  be  proper  to  enquire  what  are  the  funds  which,  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  great  object,  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  state? 

From  the  report  on  the  finances  of  the  Commonwealth  by  the  Au- 
ditor General,  for  the  year  1817,  it  appears  that  the  bank  stock 
which  is  tlie  property  of  the  state,  would,  if  computed  at  the  present 
market  price,  be  wortli  two  millions  eight  hundred  and  fifteen  thou 
sand  dollars.  It  appears  nlso  from  the  report  of  the  committee  of 
ways  and  means,  that  the  balance  due  on  arrearages  for  lands,  in- 
cluding the  value  of  lands  unsold  and  liens  on  lands,  is  one  million 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars;  when  to  this  is  added  the 
money  in  the  treasury  and  the  receipts  since  the  date  of  the  Audfi 
tor  General’s  report,  it  will  make  an  aggregate  of  about  five  millions 
of  dollars.  If  from  this  be  deducted  the  amount  of  unpaid  appro- 
priationsj  there  wdll  remain  3,800,006  dollars,  with  the  exception  of 


6 


tlic  small  appropriations  made  during  the  session  of  the  present  Le 
gislature,  besides  1,876,905  dollars  which  will  have  been  invested 
in  productive  turnpikes,  bridges  and  lock  navigations,  constituting 
altogether  a mass  of  property  wliich  in  the  aggregate  is  at  the  plea- 
sure of  the  Legislature,  convertible  into  from  five  to  six  millions  of 
clollarSi 

It  seems  then,  that  the  resources  of  the  government,  if  judicious- 
ly applied,  are  without  taxation^  equal  to  the  accomplishment  of 
improvements,  both  of  roads  and  navigation,  upon  i\\^  largest  scale) 
and  to  what  nobler  purposes  can  our  money  be  applied?  Even  in  a 
pecuniary  point  of  view,  the  advantages  appear  obvious  to  your 
committee;  lor  they  are  of  opinion  when  they  contemplate  the 
millions  who  are  about  to  inhabit  the  west,  that  the  profits  to  Penn- 
sylvania of  inland  commerce,  through  all  its  branches,  will  hereaf- 
ter create  an  annual  fund,  equal  in  amount  to  what  it  will  now  cost 
to  secure  it  It  is  worthy  the  notice  of  the  Legislature,  that  the  mo- 
ney expended  for  internal  improvements,  is  spent  in  the  state,  and 
is  not  a total  loss  of  that  amount:  it  has  a retributory  operation, 
independent  of  the  work  produced,  because  it  maintains  and  en- 
riches citizens,  who  are  parts  of  our  own  society. 

With  regard  to  the  practicability  of  making  use  of  the  natural 
channels  of  our  rivers,  the  experiments  which  have  been  made  up- 
on the  Connecticut  and  James  rivers,  and  in  other  rivers,  show 
that  it  may  be  done  at  an  expense,  far  less  than  the  cost  of  canals, 
and  affording  when  completed,  a perfect  navigation,  not  liable  to  as 
great  accidents  or  interruption  as  are  incident  to  canals.  It  is  true 
that  the  opinion  has  prevailed,  particularly  in  England,  that  canals 
are  better  than  river  navigation;  and  this  idea  has  been  countenan- 
ced by  the  politic  and  enterprising  state  of  New  York,  where  the 
passion  is  conceived,  which  is  highly  laudable  in  its  object,  of  uni- 
ting the  Hudson  with  lake  Erie,  in  defiance  of  nature,  which  guides 
that  state  towards  the  norths  and  where  an  artificial  channel  five 
times  the  length  of  that  required  in  Pennsylvania,  for  the  same 
purpose  (where  nature  guides  to  the  west  and  north  west)  is  ne- 
cessary for  the  accomplishment  of  the  stupendous  design.  It  is 
ascertained  that  the  idea  of  the  unfitness  of  such  rivers  as  Penn- 
sylvania possesses,  for  a good  navigation,  is  owing  to  error  and  pre- 
judice. In  England,  the  rivers  are  small  and  in  general  only  fit 
to  be  feeders  of  canals,  and  mw^eover  the  principles  of  constructing 
river  navigations  are  no  where  as  well  understood  as  in  the  United 
States;  the  improvements  on  the  Connecticut  and  James  river  be- 
ing an  illustration  of  this  truth.  It  may  also  be  observed,  that  ma- 
ny of  the  engineers  of  Europe  are,  from  selfish  motives,  opposed  to 
ail  improvements  in  the  art  of  inland  navigation,  which  may  lessen 
their  importance  and  their  profits:  the  proprietors  of  canal  stock  are 
also  aware,  that  if  any  other  or  better  method  of  making  a water 
conveyance  is  adopted,  the  value  of  their  property  must  be  dimi- 
nished. The  abundance  of  coal  upon  the  banks  of  our  rivers,  and 
the  improvements  which  our  ingenious  countrymen,  under  the  hap- 
py auspices  of  a free  government,  are  constantly  making  in  machi- 
nery, afford  good  ground  for  believing  that  boats  may  be  propelled 


f 


v.pon  our  rivers,  by  steam  or  othcru  isc,  with  as  mucli  economy  and 
<lispuM:li  as  tlicy  can  be  drawn  upon  a canal  by  a horse. 

SVIiile  tliscussina;  this  interesting  subject,  it  may  be  proper  to 
sdvert  to  the  decided  advantages  which  Pennsylvania  possesses 
above  New  York,  lor  the  consti  action  of  a water  communication, 
uniting  the  eastern  with  tlie  western  waters,  and  for  the  enjoyment 
of  its  enestiuiable  benefits. 

1st.  Pennsylvania,  (possessed  of  rivers,  the  impediments  of  which 
as  experience  proves,  may  be  passed  by  short  canals  and  locks)  re- 
quires an  artificial  channel  of  but  60  or  65  miles  in  length;  whereas 
New  York  requires  an  artificial  channel  3^7  miles  in  length. 

2d.  In  Pennsylvania,  the  same  boat  will  answer  for  tJie  whole 
route,  svhenever  the  rivers  are  united  by  canals  and  locks,  or  canals 
i and  inclined  planes,  and  consequently  no  unlading  or  detention 
I will  take  place;  whereas  on  the  route  from  New  York  to  the  Ohio 
/ river,  the  boat  which  navigates  the  Hudson  river  will  not  suit  the 
t canal;  and  the  boat^  which  navigates  the  canal  will  not  be  adapted 
, to  lake  Erie;  and  a fourth  boat  will  be  necessary  for  the  Allegheny 
t river  and  the  canal  wliich  connects  that  river  with  the  lake. 

( 3d.  The  national  government  will  be  more  inclined  to  pati'onise 

< a feasible  scheme  for  a water  conveyance  through  Pennsylvania,  be- 
cause it  will  afford  a direct  and  short  conveyance  by  water,  from 
the'  seat  of  government  to  the  Ohio  river  and^the  western  states. 

^4th.  The  boats  on  the  Pennsylvania  route,  may  tliroughout  the 
whole  extent,  if  they  are  not  driven  by  machinery,  be  propelled  by 
poling  or  rowing;  and  thus  a more  certain  calculation  may  be  made 
as  to  time. 

' 5th.  On  the  Pennsylvania  route,  the  distance  from  the  commer- 
cial city  on  the  Atlantic  waters,  to  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  will  be 
t:  but  little  more  than  400  miles,  whereas  on  the  New  York  route  it 
j will  be  about  750  miles.  Pennsylvania  will  consequently  afford  a 
I more  speedy  and  less  precarious  market,  and  a quicker  communica- 
^ tion  by  mail. 

6th.  The  frequent  unlading  and  warehousing  on  the  New  York 
route,  will  give  opportunities  of  pilfering;  an  evil  considered  of 
great  magnitude  in  Europe,  and  which  the  change  of  manners  which 
iS  taking  place  in  this  country  will  render  of  great  magnitude  here. 

7th.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  Pennsylvania  route  will  be  through 
the  richest  parts  ofthe  country,  along  the  banks  of  rivers  already 
improved  and  peopled,  affording  conveniencies  and  comforts, 
which  many  parts  ofthe  New  York  route  cannot  for  a long  period 
S possess.  ^ ^ 

I Sth.  Pasture  lasts  longer  in  Pennsylvania  than  in  New  York„ 
■ pd  there  w'lll  not  be  as  long  an  interruption  by  ice  (the  difference 
m the  course  of  the  year  being  computed  at  two  months  in  favor  of 
f Pennsylvania)  which  in  connection  with  the  great  length  of  the 
n ^ew  York  route,  will  render  a communication  difficult  in  the  sprinc' 
f and  autumn,  the  most  natural  seasons  for  communication.  ^ 

For  the  above  reasons  and  others  which  might  be  mentioned,  your 
^ouiixiittee  decidedly  of  opiniop,  that  transportation  may  be 


s 


¥■ 

znade  more  easy  and  cheap  from  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes  to  Philadel ^ ’ 
phia,  than  to  any  other  seaport  on  the  Atlantic  rivers;  and  that  \ 
Pennsylvania,  may  if  she  wills  it,  continue  to  afford,  as  she  ever  has 
afforded,  the  principal  channel  of  trade  between  the  east  and  the'V- 
west.  It  is  also  evident  that  if  a water  conveyance  was  completed 
through  Pennsylvania,  and  the  projected  canal  from  the  Hudson  to 
lake  Erie  accomplished,  (together’with  the  canal  which  is  to  con- 
nect the  Rariton  river  with  the  Delaware)  even  the  merchants  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  their  intercourse  with  the  populous  states  of 
the  west,  would  prefer  the  Pennsylvania  route,  as  it  will  be  more 
than  two  hundred  miles  shorter  from  the  city  of  New  York  to  the 
Ohio  river,  through  Philadelphia,  than  by  the  way  of  the  New  York 
canal.  All  competition  for  the  greatest  inland  commerce  any  state 
has  ever  had  an  opportunity  of  enjoying,  would  thus  be  frustrated^ 
a commerce  springing  from  the  most  extensive  inland  navigation  on  ^ 
the  globe;  a navigation  embracing  “ every  soil  and  every  clime;”  ^ 
connecting  the  gulf  of  Mexico  with  the  great  lakes,  and  from  thence  j 
through  the  centre  of  Pennsylvania,  to  the  Delaware  and  the  Atlanr,- 
tic  ocean. 

From  the  foregoing  opinions,  it  will  be  perceived,  that  your  com»  ' 
mittee  have  not  questioned  the  practicability  of  accomplishing  the 
great  undertaking,  which  is  the  principal  subject  of  their  report. 
\Vhat  has  been  effected  in  other  countries  and  in  other  states  of 
our  own  country,  removes  all  doubt,  as  to  the  practicability  of  ma^ 
king  a slack  water  navigation  upon  our  rivers;  and  when  this  is 
done,  it  would  be  necessary,  first,  to  unite  the  Schuylkill  with  the 
Susquehanna,  and  secondly,  to  unite  the  Juniata,  or  wef:t  branch  of 
the  Susquehanna,  with  one  of  the  navigable  branches  of  the  Alleghe- 
ny. The  feasibility  of  the  first  is  not  doubted  by  any  one  conver- 
sant with  the  history  of  inland  navigation;  that  the  second  may  be 
effected,  appears  obvious  to  your  committee,  particularly  when  they 
advert  to  the  facts  which  are  well  ascertained,  that  the  branches  of 
the  Susquehanna  and  Allegheny  almost  cross  the  mountains,  and^^ 
leave  no  very  extraordinary  elevation  to  be  overcome:  that  on  the 
Chester  canal  in  England  there  is  a rise  of  796  feet  in  an  extent  of 
17  miles:  that  Languedoc  canal  in  France  has  a rise  of  more  than 
800  feet. 

In  corroboration  of  the  practicability  of  passing  our  mountains, 
with  boats,  your  committee  annex  the  following  letter  from  Charles. 
Treziulney,  Esq.  an  experienced  and  skilful  hydraulic  engineer^, 
and  one  of  the  Commissioners  who  explored  the  route  of  the  con| 
templated  canal  for  uniting  the  waters  of  the  Seneca  lake  and  Tiogrr 
river,  the  plan  and  profile  of  the  survey  and  levels  of  which  have 
afforded  the  greatest  satisfaction. 

Harrisburg,  9th  March,  1818.  / 

Dear  <Sir, 

In  answer  to  your  enquiries,  I can  say,  that  I have  no  doub- 
of  the  practicability  of  connecting  the  head  waters  of  the  branches 
of  the  Susquehanea  and  those  of  the  Allegheny.  I have  frequently 


»een,  at  various  seasons  of  the  year,  upon  the  ridj^es  which  separate 
he  waters  ol  (he  Juniata  from  that  of  the  Coin‘maugh  branch  of  the 
Vlleghcn}',  and  have  always  been  of  opinion  tiiat  there  is  a sufficient 
j of  water,  to  make  a reservoir  Upon  the  summit  level  adequate  to 
he  feeding  of  a canal  to  connect  the  eastern  and  western  waters, 
riie  highest  part  of  the  ridges  is  well  supplied  with  natural  springs 
ind  rivulets.  But  it  appears  to  me  further,  that  a far-  easier-  con- 
lection  could  be  effected  and  at  much  less  expence,  with  the  west 
i n-anch  of  Susquehanna,  Anderson’s  and  Sandylick  creeks. 

The  last  mentioned  creeks  being  in  all  seasons  of  the  year  plenti- 
ully  supplied  with  water,  and  at  the  points  of  separation,  there 
ire  numbers  of  other  streams  in  the  vicinity  which  could  be  con- 
lected,  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  an  elevated  reservoir. 

‘ The  levelling  and  surveying  of  such  parts  will  be  the  only  means 
bf  ascertaining  the  true  state  with  certainty, 

I am  respectfully,  sir, 

Y our  humble  servant, 

CHARLES  TREZIYULNY, 
William  Lehman^  Esq,  Chairman 
of  the  committee  of  roads  and 
inland  navigation. 

This  opinion  was  also  countenanced  Ijy  the  late  Robert  Fulton, 
i native  of  our  state,  and  whose  genius  has  improved  and  adorned 
|)ur  country.  He  said  that  we  might  have  all  the  blessings  of  water 
conveyance,  so  celebrated  in  the  level  and  fertile  plains  of  Egypt; 
;hat  canals  might  be  carried  over  our  highest  mountains,  and  even 
vhere  nature  has  denied  us  water;  that  a mountain  800  feet  high 
could  be  passed  by  boats,  at  an  expense  trifling,  when  compared 
vith  the  importance  of  the  object. 

Your  committee  cannot  avoid  expressing  their  satisfaction  at  the 
'easonable  prospect  which  is  now  afforded  of  completing  in  two  or 
hree  years,  the  navigation  of  the  river  Schuylkill,  the  first  great 
ink  in  the  chain  of  water  communication.  As  an  auxiliary  step 
cowards  the  further  progress  of  this  great  work,  they  now  submit  a 
)ill  annexed  to  this  report;  the  object  of  which  is  the  appointment 
)f  commissioners  who  are  to  ascertain,  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing 
jurnmer,  the  nature  efthe  soil  in  relation  to  the  construction  of  an 
irtificial  channel  fit  to  hold  water:  the  exact  distance  between  the 
lighest  navigable  parts  of  the  rivers  or  creeks  which  flow  eastward 
ind  westward:  the  rise  and  fall  upon  that  route  between  the  waters 
)f  the  Allegheny  and  those  of  the  Susquehanna,  which  is  deemed 
, nost  eligible  for  a water  conveyance:  or  the  number  of  locks  which 
vill  be  necessary  to  ascend  and  descend  with  boats:  the  quantity 
I of  water  which  is  furnished  by  the  natural  springs  and  rivulets,  and 
vvhether  that  is  adequate  to  passing  the  number  of  boats  which  the 
j ade  will  require;  and  if  that  quantum  of  water  is  not  sufficient, 
i vhat  will  be  the  expense  of  raising  the  water  to  the  proper  level  bv 

! u-tificial  means.  ^ ^ 

* 


Your  comiTiittf^o  have  hitherta  fixee'  their  aUenlion  upon  inUndna 
vigation^  which  they  corcider  of  primary  impo'  tance,  and  at  this 
period  necessary,  for  the  preservation  of  o'lr  inland  commerce;  for, 
to  use  the  language  contained  in  a very  able  report  made  to  tlje  Le- 
gislature in  1808,  to  answer  the  purposes  o[ slate  vJerest,  our  im- 
proveincnts  ouglit  to  be  at  least  equal  in  cjiaracter  t«  those  with 
which  they  are  to  enter  into  competition.”  Land  carriagt  alone,  as 
must  be  obvious  to  every  reflecting  mind,  will  not  hereafter  enable 
us  to  rival  our  neighbors.  The  advantages,  however,  resulting  from 
good  roads  and  bridges,  even  if  a complete  water  communica- 
tion should  be  made  throughout  the  state,  far  overbalance  any  con- 
siderations arising  from  the  cost.  Your  committee  therefore  al.io 
beg  leave  to  annex  to  this  report  and  to  submit  to  the  considera- 
tion of  the  House,  a general  appr^prialion  bill,  embracing  many 
objects  which  they  deem  of  public  importance. 

Your  committee  conclude,  by  expressing  their  firm  opinion,  that 
Pennsylvania,  from  her  resources  of  industry,  wealth  and  popula- 
tion; the  salubrity  and  mildness  other  climate;  the  fertility  of  her 
soil:  her  mountains  of  coal  and  other  fossil  and  mineral  productions; 
her  numerous  rivers,  which  spread  themselves  in  every  direction, 
connected  on  the  west  with  the  Mississippi  and  the  great  lakes,  and 
on  the  east  with  the  Atlantic,  and  offering,  with  the  assistance  of 
art,  to  embrace  each  other:  that  this  state,  so  highly  favored  by  na- 
ture, and  once  first  in  rank,  but  now  lagging  beSnd  her  neighbors, 
is  better  adapted  than  New  York  or  any  other  state,  to  accomplish 
the  noblest  objects  of  internal  improvement;  objects  fraught  w ith 
blessings  of  the  highest  order,  and  which  we  are^  called  upon  to 
complete  by  every  motive  of  interest,  duty  and  honoro 


UNWEBS’^ 


1124812^ 


'f^-$ 


